Jermell Charlo outpoints Charlie Ohta on Stevenson-Fonfara undercard

Junior middleweight contender Jermell Charlo remained unbeaten with a 12-round unanimous decision over Charlie Ohta on the Adonis Stevenson-Andrzej Fonfara undercard on Saturday in Montreal. Charlo, who got up from a knockdown in Round 3, won by scores of 115-111 and 118-109 (twice).

Charlo (24-0, 11 knockouts), THE RING's No. 9-rated 154 pounder, was docked a point for low blows in Round 9, but was otherwise in command of most of the fight, which was the opening bout of a Showtime boradcast (in the U.S.). The 24-year-old Houston native utilized his height and reach advantage with a stick-and-move strategy that was effective but not terribly entertaining.

Of course, Ohta (24-2-1, 16 KOs), a solid pro who fights out of Tokyo, Japan, had a part in the uneventful nature of the bout. The 32-year-old New York native gamely pressed forward for much of the fight but was unable to cut the ring off on the talented Texan. Ohta landed a right to Charlo's chest that produced an off-balance knockdown in Round 3, and tried hard (but in vain) to work Charlos' body whenever he was in close, but he was seldom able to connect with clean power shots to the head.

On the other hand, Charlo, who was penalized a point for low blows in Round 9, seemed to land his jab and counter punches at will throughout the fight.

"This was a rough one," Charlo told Showtime's Jim Gray after the fight. "I slipped (in Round 3). He caught me off balance. I'm still young, and still growing, so there is more to come from me. They got champions at 154 and we (he and his twin brother Jermall) are looking to be in front of them."